Louis Annino

Louis Annino was active during the period 1930 through 1937, contributing extensively to the historical project known as the Index of American Designs. This governmental initiative, often associated with the Federal Art Project, focused on the precise documentation and preservation of pre-1900 American decorative and folk arts. Fifteen works by Annino documenting these historical objects are represented in museum collections.

Annino’s specific focus within the Index centered on renderings of domestic material culture and functional craftsmanship. Examples of documented works preserved in the archives include a Clock, a Pewter Porringer, a Pitcher, a Silver Flagon, and a Tavern Table or Refectory Table. These detailed illustrations function as critical resources for the study of early American design and material history.

The historical importance of Annino's work is established by its inclusion in prominent institutional holdings. Louis Annino’s renderings for the Index of American Designs are held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. Because this collection was created as a federal initiative, many of these resources have entered the public domain, making high-quality prints readily accessible for researchers and collectors seeking Louis Annino prints of historical objects.